Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing improved feathers (including down feathers) by coating said feathers with coating materials via plasma deposition resulting in coated feathers and down feathers with improved properties such as moisture resistance, hydrophobicity, fill power (loft), and other improved characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a hydraulic barrier at an interface between high and low permeability regions that may exist in high permeability-contrast subterranean formations. These systems and methods may include providing injection and/or production wells that are completed within the high and/or low permeability regions, supplying a pore throat blocking agent to an interface between the high and low permeability regions, and forming the hydraulic barrier at the interface. The pore throat blocking agent may be sized to substantially flow through the high permeability region while being substantially blocked, or occluded, from the low permeability region. In some embodiments, the hydraulic barrier may be greater than one acre (0.4 hectare) in area. In some embodiments, the subterranean formation may include an oil reservoir. In some embodiments, the high and/or low permeability formations may be swept concurrently and/or independently to remove oil from the oil reservoir.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a hydraulic barrier at an interface between high and low permeability regions that may exist in high permeability-contrast subterranean formations. These systems and methods may include providing injection and/or production wells that are completed within the high and/or low permeability regions, supplying a pore throat blocking agent to an interface between the high and low permeability regions, and forming the hydraulic barrier at the interface. The pore throat blocking agent may be sized to substantially flow through the high permeability region while being substantially blocked, or occluded, from the low permeability region. In some embodiments, the hydraulic barrier may be greater than one acre (0.4 hectare) in area. In some embodiments, the subterranean formation may include an oil reservoir. In some embodiments, the high and/or low permeability formations may be swept concurrently and/or independently to remove oil from the oil reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of forming a multifunctional polymer film by plasma discharge by providing one or more monomers to a plasma discharge reactor, wherein the one or more monomers comprising one or more functional groups; polymerizing the one or more monomers into a multifunctional polymer; and forming a polymer film from the multifunctional polymer on a surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for delivery of an enteric coated active agent generally resistant to disintegration in an neutral environment having one or more active agents encapsulated by a polymer coating formed by chemical vapor deposition of one or more monomers on the one or more active agents to form a chemical vapor deposition polymer coating that controls the release of the one or more active agents in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of making and encapsulating one or more active agents in a chemical vapor deposition layer to enhance the stability.

Abstract: A conveyor is powered by a rotating, generally horizontal drive tube or shaft engaged by angularly disposed trolley wheels, in which trolleys support the conveyed products or materials above the drive tube and clear of any parts of the conveyor structure that would interfere with the desired path of travel. Each of the trolleys is provided with load wheels which ride on load rails above the drive tube and associated drive wheels, thereby providing a structure upon which a platform or other support may be mounted for bearing the transported products.

Abstract: A conveyor is powered by a rotating, generally horizontal drive tube or shaft engaged by angularly disposed trolley wheels, in which trolleys support the conveyed products or materials above the drive tube and clear of any parts of the conveyor structure that would interfere with the desired path of travel. Each of the trolleys is provided with load wheels which ride on load rails above the drive tube and associated drive wheels, thereby providing a structure upon which a platform or other support may be mounted for bearing the transported products.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to controlled drug delivery. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel device/system and extracorporeally-controlled method of drug delivery. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a system comprising a thermally-active metal nanoshell; and a temperature-responsive interpenetrating polymer network having at least one therapeutic agent disposed therein; wherein the thermally-active metal nanoshell is proximate to the temperature-responsive interpenetrating polymer network. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a particle composition comprising a thermally-active metal nanoshell and a temperature-responsive interpenetrating polymer network. A method is also provided comprising: providing a plurality of the particles; and irradiating the particles so as to effect a temperature-induced swelling of the temperature-responsive interpenetrating polymer network.

Abstract: A factory preassembled drive module is assembled between opposed spaced apart ends of load beams and opposed rotatable shafts supported by the load beams are assembled drivingly to a rotatable drive shaft coupling of the drive unit or module in a job site where the overhead conveyor is installed. The drive unit module includes a motor driving a transmission, in turn driving pulleys that drive belts in turn driving the rotatable portion of the drive shaft coupling. The drive motor and transmission are mounted on a bracket with lost motion permitting tension adjustment of the belts, and the bracket is formed with flanges to respectively abut and overlap correspondingly shaped portions of the adjacent load beams for connection thereto.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor is operated at a slower speed within the treatment area or buffer than the speed of a conveyor delivering products to the treatment area or buffer and the speed of a conveyor removing products from the treatment area or buffer. Elongated products are delivered to the treatment area or buffer so that the direction of product elongation corresponds with the conveying direction and are removed from the treatment area or buffer so that the direction of product elongation corresponds with the conveying direction, particularly by being suspended from two carriages of an overhead conveyor system. Within the treatment area or buffer, the two carriages that are serially located or in tandem while traveling on the delivery conveyor and the exit conveyor, are placed on separate parallel conveyors so that the orientation of the elongation direction of the products is perpendicular to the conveying direction within the treatment area or buffer.